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Subtitle: The Thirty-Ninth Congress.

Title: Anglo-African - December 23, 1865

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)

The writer comments on the proceedings of the first session of the Thirty-Ninth Congress. Debate about laws and civil rights for the newly freed slaves after Reconstruction made this session an important one.

Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)

Title: Charles Lenox Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Passionate speech given at the anti-slavery convention held in Albany, N.Y. regarding the condition of the slave in the U.S. Emphasis placed on the influence of the Church and government legislation in the continuation of the institution of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 873 word document (text and images)

Subtitle: Connecticut Coming Round.

Title: Colored American - June 16, 1838

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer tells his readers about recent decisions made in the Connecticut courts that indicate a less prejudiced attitude towards African Americans.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Whig Triumph.

Title: Colored American - November 18, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer expresses his concerns regarding the recent Whig victory. His worries are regarding the African American population of his state and are based in past experience with legislation that has been detrimental to the race.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Political Action.

Title: Colored American - October 19, 1839

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer makes a distinction between "political action" and "moral action" regarding the issues of slavery and emancipation. He tells his readers that some abolitionists are acting only as it serves their political purposes, not as a moral obligation to God. He urges his readers to continue going to the polls, but to cast their votes for what is religiously right, not what is best for the political party.

Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)

Subtitle: Meeting of Congress.

Title: Colored American - September 2, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer expresses his opposition to the proposed annexation of Texas that will be decided at an upcoming session in Congress.

Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Christian News

Review of a speech calling for unconditional emancipation of slaves in the U.S. in similar fashion to the way slaves were freed in Egypt. The speaker disagreed with the idea of financial compensation of the slaveholders for each freed slave.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,100 word document (text and images)

Title: James McCune Smith

Speaker or author: Smith, James McCune, 1813-1865

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief congratulations to the Emancipation Society of Glasgow for their recent contribution to suppression of the slave trade.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 256 word document (images and text)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Elevator

Impassioned speech in which the speaker emphasized that along with freedom, African Americans were entitled to all the privileges of citizenship including suffrage, legal, social and political rights. Denying a citizen these rights on the basis of color was illogical, irrational, and uncivilized.

Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,101 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

The speaker appealed to the people of Great Britain for their support in the fight for emancipation in the U.S. He explained a bit of what was happening in the U.S. regarding the war, and focused on the issue of slavery and the strides being made by the anti-slavery movements there.

Description of file(s): PDF 14 page, 4,006 word document (text and images)

Subtitle: Petitions! Petitions!

Title: National Reformer - February, 1839

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: National Reformer (1838 - 1839)

Brief editorial encouraging readers to petition the state government to learn specifically what civil rights are provided to African Americans in Pennsylvania.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Subtitle: Editorial Correspondence.

Title: Provincial Freeman - June 10, 1854

Speaker or author: Ward, Samuel Ringgold, b. 1817

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

In a letter to the editor, the writer describes two types of aboltionists: both want freedom for the slave, but one type wants this freedom limited and restricted. There are more of this type than of those working for true human equality. His view of freedom includes human equality and civil rights, and it's this view that he encourages among those who claim to be abolitionists.

Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages

Title: Samuel Ringgold Ward

Speaker or author: Ward, Samuel Ringgold, b. 1817

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Speech delivered during the Cazenovia Anti-Slavery Convention addressing issues of government legislation that encourages discrimination in schools and churches.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 625 word document (text and images)

Title: William P. Powell

Speaker or author: Powell, William P.

Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)

Speech promoting and encouraging the education of African American children.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 525 word document (text and images)

Title: William Wells Brown

Speaker or author: Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884

Newspaper or publication: Gateshead Observer

Brief overview of speech regarding the history of slavery from its introduction to the current anti-slavery movement.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 260 word document (text and image)

Title: William Wells Brown

Speaker or author: Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884

Newspaper or publication: Printed Copy -- Rhode Island Historical Society -- Newspaper Clipping File

The speaker encouraged a defiant attitude of the convention attendees to the continuation of slavery. He denounced the recent Dred Scott decision, and called for the state of Massachusetts to take action towards total emancipation in the U.S. (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 206 word document (text and image)

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